Loch Bad an Sgalaig

Distance: 4.8 miles
Ascent: 280m
Weather: warm and sunny
Heard cuckoo, saw pipets, crow, bee, bogs aplenty
Bogs: tastic
Feet: wet

We crossed the road from the carpark, where there's a little bridge and a hut with some walk information,  including slightly worrying news that two of the footbridges are now gone. Undeterred we set off. The walk started through the newly planted native forest (trees now 30 years old and looking fairly well established) along a stony track that led up gently, under unpronounceable hill (Meall a Ghlas Leothaid) towards unpronounceable river (Abhainn a Gharbh Choire.)

The route along the river was wet, following posts passing a couple of waterfalls and heading into a small gully which was quite steep on the other side. Thankfully the bridge was intact and functional when we reached it. Had lunch on a rock at the bottom of the waterfall.

The path continued wet and muddy around the shore of Loch Bad an Sgalaig, then headed up through a gully back to the rocky track.

Back at the cottage, we sat out in the sunshine and watched the birds in the loch. Red breasted mergansers, possibly red throated divers and the now familiar gannets.

Dinner in Millcroft Hotel, complete with vension, scallops,  cranacon,  Glenmorangie, Glen Scotia double cask from Campbelltown.

Inverewe and Loch Fiion

Distance: 12.5 miles
Ascent: 450m
Weather: warm and sunny
Cuckoo, pipets, wheatear,  skylark, mallard, golden eagle, stonechats.

Late morning at Inverewe Gardens, where the rhododendrons, azaleas and anemones were in fine flower, followed by lunch in cafe where international tourists sampling local beer.

From carpark at gardens, walked through the nature reserve towards the village and then took the path out towards Loch Kernsary, very pretty and rocky. Meeting the track we turned left up the track through Kernsary Forest to Fionn Loch, passing Bad Bog near to Loch an Eilin. A distant golden eagle was spotted,  amongst mostly small birds.

We returned via the track to the farm and then carried on towards the River Ewe (at the end of Loch Maree) along the tarmac lane. The river becomes more visible as you get closer to the village. We then had to walk back to the carpark, it was quite late by then and the shops were closed, no ice-creams for Robs and Helens,  but we did have a bit of a sit in the wildlife hide,  seeing some greenshank and oystercatchers.



Whale Watching to Shiant Islands

87 miles boat trip in Orca 1
Skippered by a dour Yorkshireman
Seats very uncomfortable after 4 hours at high speed.
Amazing experience.

We saw:

Minke whale

Puffin
Guillemot
Black guillemot
Razorbills
Kittiwake
Shag
Gannet
White tailed (sea) eagle
Porpoise
Grey seals
Dolphins

Fairy Lochs

Distance: 14.8 miles
Ascent:
Weather: warm and sunny

Fairy lochs, fairy mallard, roe deer, heard cuckoo, wren, golden eagle, small fish, Highland coos.

We walked from Strath to the harbour in Gairloch, calling in for additional bottles of water and boat trip information,  before taking the Old Road (now forestry track) to the road junction to Shieldaig. 

The road is single lane with passing places, with a flower edged stream with little fish in it.

Near the hotel, the path heads up on to the hills, a little rocky mostly dry but obviously one that is usually very wet. Especially on the tops near to the memorial site to the crashed WW2 plane and towards the loch. The aircrash site is very poignant, also stunningly beautiful.

We crossed the boggy moorland (that was relatively dry) between the lochs towards Loch Braigh Horrisdale,  where I attempted to inhale water, saw a wren and then a golden eagle. And then another.

The walk back to the road was mostly spend scanning the skies for more eagles. Did see a deer's bum.

A couple of beers and dinner at the Old Inn were most enjoyable,  before walking the two miles back to the cottage, calling in at the shop for disappointing milk.

Rubha Rèidh

Distance: 9.3 miles
Ascent: 430m
Weather: warm and sunny

Buzzard, pipets, wheatear, stonechat, shag, gannet, otter, seals, great skua, swallows heard. Cuckoo

We parked at Melvaig and walked along the coastal road to the lighthouse at Rubha Rèidh which is about three miles of single track road with passing places. It was a bit busier with cars than I'd expected, more people going by car than on foot, although later on the return we saw more pedestrians. From the lighthouse,  the route is paths over peat moorland, looking inland seemed quite similar to the Peak District, the other way steep cliffs with sea birds, rocky stack, arches, caves and deserted beaches (Camas Mòr - large bay, apparently called Troll-Vik - troll bay - when the viking were here.)

After lunch on a little midgy pile of rock, we headed back by the same route we'd come, rewarded by seeing an otter running up the stream, and then later seals swimming in the waters around the lighthouse.

As we walked back along the lane it had warmed up considerably, the sun bright, the sea shining, Skye and the other islands in the distance were hazy on the horizon.

Flowerdale, Gairloch

Distance: 8 miles
Ascent: 300m
Weather: warm and dry but windy
Siskin, troll bridge, toad, hooded crow, little lambs.

A morning spent watching gannets diving into loch Gairloch, we then ventured out,  along the path between the golf course and the beach to the harbour,  and up Flowerdale to the waterfall, where there were lots of wildflowers along the way, including primroses, violets, celandine and bluebells.

The waterfall was impressive,  but unfortunately one of those that you can't see well when close to. The path down was easy but a little wet. We gad lunch at a bench in the car park at the bottom of the hill doing the arboretum walk through the steep woodland and back through a damp meadow to the road.